Even more pupils are set to have safer and healthier journeys to school when 10 further Schools Streets are introduced in September, taking the total in Croydon to 21.
Croydon already has the most schemes in London benefiting hundreds of youngsters at 17 different schools and the new measures will increase this to 26 schools.
School Streets ban most traffic from the road immediately outside the school gate at the start and end of the school day making it safer for children to walk to school while at the same time reducing air pollution.
They will also give pupils more room to socially distance when schools return in September.
The 10 new initiatives were recommended for adoption at a meeting of Croydon’s Traffic Management Advisory Committee yesterday (Wednesday 8 July).
They will be created outside:
- Christ Church CofE Primary School, Montpelier Road, Purley
- Downsview Primary School, Marston Way, Norbury
- Ecclesbourne Primary School, Atlee Close, Thornton Heath
- Harris Primary Academy Haling Park, Haling Road, South Croydon
- Keston Primary School, Keston Avenue, Coulsdon
- Kingsley Primary Academy, Thomson Crescent and Chapman Road, Broad Green
- Oasis Academy Reylands, Oakley Road and Sandown Road, South Norwood
- Ridgeway Primary School, Southcote Road, Sanderstead
- St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary, Birchanger Road, Woodside
- St Joseph’s Catholic Junior School, Woodend, Upper Norwood
With some exemptions, most vehicles will not be allowed to enter the roads between 8am and 9.30am as well as between 2pm and 4pm during term time. Drivers flouting the rules face a fine of up to £130.
Free exemption permits are available to residents living in the roads, staff at the schools, transports for children with special educational needs and others with a legitimate need to access the road.
Residents living near the roads were given the chance to have their say earlier this year on the schemes with most of the 457 respondents supporting the schemes. The new measures will be reviewed after six months.
“Our School Street scheme encourages children to have a safe space to walk, cycle and scoot to school and it has never been more important to create this space for them as the borough prepares for pupils to return to school next year.
“These new School Streets will help hundreds more pupils have safer journeys as Croydon continues to lead the way in creating better and safer routes for our schoolchildren.”
Councillor Stuart King, cabinet lead for environment and transport